Five books on Xenophobia

I have followed the terrible tragedy that took place in parts of South Aftica and I am saddened by all the stories and verbiage surrounding it. Though stories online ‘most of which are fake,’ mainstream reports and columnists  and feature writers. Then there are the market place stories like A Nigerian called Xenophobia was killed […]

I have followed the terrible tragedy that took place in parts of South Aftica and I am saddened by all the stories and verbiage surrounding it. Though stories online ‘most of which are fake,’ mainstream reports and columnists  and feature writers. Then there are the market place stories like A Nigerian called Xenophobia was killed in South Africa and so on and so forth. Some of it would have been hilarious if it was not so sad. I have followed the statements made by the Federal government on protection of her citizens and I raise my forearm in salute but I have also followed Nigerian citizens who have offered support like the MD of a Nigerian airline and several good hearted Nigerians. I am also distressed by purported revenge behaviour by some aggrieved Nigerians on South African business interests.

And also stories of poor treatment of departing Nigerians  by South Africans Authorities. All of this information I have stored away for processing and deep analysis. Analysis, interrogation, deep thought is what most  Nigerians are lacking nowadays. We spend time on emotions, here say, namecalling and other such related matters. Everyone is walking around with blinkers.  Time for our historians, social scientists, foreign affairs analysts to step in. This collection examines South Africa’s history, our role as a front line state, drug wars, apartheid and racism in other climes and South Africa and how we collectively got here. This I promise is a collectors item.

1) Xenophobia in South Africa. This is an incredible book by H. Kenneth Tafira  a researcher, independent writer and consultant which takes a look at post- apartheid racism.

The author moved into Alexandre,  a Johannesburg township after 64 people died in a wave of anti-immigrant violence. This  book is a thorough study of what transpired there and what led to it. The new face of racism is black on black racism following a long history of colonial dehumanisation. This book contains issues of popular stereotypes, self abnegation, gender  and sexual politics. The author investigates the dynamics of love relationships between South African women and black  immigrant men and pervading myths about male sexuality and economic competitiveness. A must read.

2) Stories abound about treatment of Nigerians and the Nigerian behaviour off shore which offends South African citizens. Loud parties, show – offs and permanent attempts to prove a better pedigree in addition to doling out cash inappropriately. Stories of immigrants all over the world indicate how immigrants bought over their communities by doing good works. There are many stories of good Nigerians doing well professionally. But the tar brush of drug deals ran by some of our citizens is ruining our reputation as a collective people. Let’s not play the ostrich. Many other immigrants are complaining that  some of our citizens lifestyle and drug money laundering is costing them. Read the 1973 book by Ernest Harms, ‘Drugs and Youth,  The Challenge of Today.’ It’s hard not to pay attention to that side of things but attacking people is not the answer.

3) Maya Angelou,  writer and Poet wrote one of the finest books on racism in America when she wrote her seminal book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. An autobiographical book on racism and trauma. With a close look one meets May as a four year old with her elder brother going to live with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Then again, we follow her to 16 years when she becomes  a mother. She goes from being a racially abused woman to a dignified proud African American. In her case, it’s about slavery, in South Africa, it’s choice migration.

Think deep.

4) Chidi Igwe writes an amazing book titled, ‘Taking back Nigeria from 419.’ This awareness book helps to put Advance fee fraud in perspective and provides enough information to prevent you from being a victim.

Enough soul searching tells us that some of us are exporting the wrong thing to other countries. Time to wake up.

5) American Intolerance: Our Dark History of Demonizing Immigrants by Anja E. Reumschussel and Robert E. Bartholomew. This book documents the US treatment of immigrants and minority groups and the persecution of newcomers to America from the 19th century when there were signs all over the US saying ‘No dogs, no blacks, no Mexicans.’ Is there anything that’s new now in todays America?